Pennsylvania – from www.post-gazette.com A Coraopolis police officer and a Pennsylvania state trooper were part of Ben Roethlisberger’s retinue in Milledgeville, Ga. last week when the Steelers quarterback allegedly sexually assaulted a college student in a nightclub.
Officer Anthony J. Barravecchio and state Trooper Ed Joyner of the Washington barracks accompanied Mr. Roethlisberger to Georgia to celebrate his 28th birthday, Mr. Barravecchio’s lawyer, Michael F. Santicola, said today.
Both officers are personal friends of the quarterback’s and were with him in that capacity, Mr. Santicola said.
Mr. Santicola said he is friends with Trooper Joyner and has received a phone call from him about the situation, but the two have not yet spoken.
“Then went down together. They were completely sober the night of this occurrence. They’re cooperating completely with whatever investigation is ongoing,” Mr. Santicola said of the police officers.
Neither has been contacted or interviewed by Georgia authorities, Mr. Santicola said.
A 20-year-old student at Georgia College & State University accused Mr. Roethlisberger of sexually assaulting her at Capital City nightclub in Milledgeville’s business district either late Thursday or early Friday.
Authorities have not released details about the allegations but said they are seeking a sample of Mr. Roethlisberger’s DNA. Mr. Roethlisberger’s legal team has denied the accusations.
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